In this first of a 3-part “music and wellness” podcast series, we listen to the music and stories from state employees who shared their time and musical talent at our 2022 state employee virtual wellness fair. Each of them reflects on how music has contributed to their own wellness in surprising ways. This episode is co-hosted by Jimmy Anderson, who not only plays in the Austin band The Bandoliers, he also served as videographer for our wellness fair concert series and works for the Office of Comptroller Accounts. Experience the power of music in this very special series.

Check out all of the afternoon concerts and more through the 2022 Virtual Wellness Fair Channel.

Send feedback for this episode and these performers to [email protected] 

How can slam poetry change your day? In this very unique and short episode of the podcast, Lacy introduces Brian Francis, retired executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and a nationally acclaimed slam poet. We get to hear Brian as he uses the words submitted to him from state employees to create a poem on the spot. The words and the poem are inspired by the theme of our most recent State Employee Virtual Wellness Fair: Adapt & Thrive. Feel inspired by Brian’s weaving of words into a tapestry of emotions, aspirations and song. We are all poets. Words matter. And today is our moment. 

Watch Brian Francis' full poetry session in video format
You can also check out all of this year's sessions from the 2022 Virtual Wellness Fair through the 2022 Virtual Wellness Fair Channel! 

Lacy talks with Dr. Genovese, Chief Medical Officer for Acadia Healthcare, the largest standalone provider of behavioral health care in the U.S., about trauma’s impact on the brain and what we can do about it. Part 1 of this conversation focused on trauma’s impact on the brain and practices that support resiliency when you experience trauma. In this second part of the conversation, Dr. Genovese outlines symptoms of post-traumatic stress and shares effective psychological therapies for trauma – from talk therapies and EMDR to somatic experiencing.  Dr. Genovese says there are many options for us to try as we seek to heal from trauma. Taking the first step is an act of courage and your HealthSelect of Texas insurance plan provides coverage for mental health treatment.

Mental Health Resources:

HealthSelect of Texas Virtual Mental Health Visits
HealthSelect of Texas Mental Health Information
2022 Virtual Wellness Fair Mental Health Toolkit

Lacy talks with Dr. Genovese, Chief Medical Officer for Acadia Healthcare, the largest standalone provider of behavioral health care in the U.S., about trauma’s impact on the brain and what we can do about it. Learn about the ways we all experience trauma on a daily basis and the unusual amount of trauma experienced by first responders, who make up a significant portion of our state employee population. Dr. Genovese describes how unmanaged stress can change how your brain is wired and how you see the world. He also shares strategies for preparing yourself and for taking care of yourself during or after a traumatic or stressful experience. He also touches on the surprising impact of alcohol consumption on stress.

Check out the recent webinars we have offered on Brain Health:

Dr. Russell Frohardt, Ph.D. Q&A with a Neuroscientist
Mindfulness & Your Brain Webinar
Sleep & Your Brain Webinar

Registration is OPEN!  October 17-21, 2022 Virtual Wellness Fair Registration Page! 

Lacy talks with Holly Cuozzo, a fitness specialist with the Texas Department of Public Safety. At the time of this interview, groceries cost 10% more than they did a year ago. With two teenage boys to feed, Lacy empathizes with other families feeling this impact on her household. Learn how Holly and Lacy approach eating well and economically at home, work and on the go. You’ll be craving Holly’s fried rice recipe at the end!

 Resources:
MyPlate | U.S. Department of Agriculture for meal planning
Eating Well on a Budget Webinar with Holly Cuozzo, MS
DPS Fitness Wellness Unit webpage
ERS Wellness Events Calendar

Holly's Easy Fried Rice Recipe

Ingredients:
• 3 ½ cups Brown or White Rice, cooked
• 1 cup Chicken Breast, Ham, Pork, or Tofu, cooked and chopped (optional)
• 2 Eggs, beaten
• 1 cup Mixed Vegetables, cooked and chopped* *use fresh or frozen
• 2 Green Onions, slices
• 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
• Soy Sauce and/or Hot Sauce to taste

Yield: 4 servings
Instructions:

1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Heat pan. Add 1 tsp of oil. Add eggs and scramble.
3. Remove cooked eggs and set aside.
4. Add the rest of oil (2 tsp) to pan. Stir fry rice, breaking up lumps by pressing rice against pan.
5. Add cooked protein and/or vegetables. Stir fry until heated.
6. Add green onions, reserved eggs, and sauce to taste. Serve hot.
7. Cover and refrigerate leftovers within two hours.

Lacy talks to state employee and competitive sand sculptor Albert Lucio about “flow,” a mental state that’s highly correlated happiness and well-being. Anyone can experience “flow” by engaging with your passions and even work in ways that challenge you. Having served for 16 years with the Department of Family and Protective Services while pursuing his passion for building giant sand sculptures, Albert shares insights for creating flow in daily activities and new challenges that interest you. Learn his tips for finding activities that interest you (or that might interest you if you approached them differently) and how to overcome a lack of motivation.
 
ERS Wellness Webinar: Finding Flow at Work and in Life with Albert Lucio
Albert’s sand sculpting photos : https://albertlucio.com/
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance by Steven Kotler
Search Meet Up to connect with other people who share your interests

 Lacy visits with Melanie Odums from the non-profit Trellis Company about new information that can have a huge impact your financial health.  If you have been making payments on student loan debt over the years while employed by a state agency (or any governmental entity), a public school or institute of higher educations, or a non-profit, you might be eligible for loan forgiveness from the federal government. There have been temporary changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, making even more people eligible for loan forgiveness. But borrowers must apply to the U.S. Department of Education before October 31, 2022, to take advantage of these temporary, more relaxed rules.

Melanie Odums is an Accredited Financial Counselor and has been working in the financial aid industry for 17 years.   She has had a variety of roles in financial aid administration and loan servicing, including working one-on-one with college students and families.  Through this work she has helped many individuals understand and navigate the financial aid process, their student loans, and their personal finances. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Texas State University.

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Upcoming webinars can be found at the ERS Wellness Events Calendar
Trellis webpage with more resources and links 
Text Questions to: (512) 359-8838 

Years before Alexis Schminke became a fitness instructor with Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Alexis was an active child from an active family, who became a teen who struggled with body image and her relationship with food. She later became a forensic scientist with DPS and even later, found her passion for health and wellness… and for her own changing body.

Alexis talks about her journey to becoming an active adult and what keeps her motivated to feel good in her body.

Resources:
Movement Mindset Webinar Link
Virtual Fitness Calendar Link
HealthSelect Wellness Benefit Resources
ERS Discount Purchase Program Link

In this short episode Lacy discusses how your mindset impacts your movement. She reflects on her childhood experiences that helped her to build movement mindset and how her mindset changed when she no longer had team sports in her life.

 Through a new activity she found a renewed sense of purpose and way to move that has been a cornerstone of her movement practice for the past 18 years.  In this podcast you will hear 5 strategies to help you build or maintain your movement mindset!

Resources mentioned during this episode:

1 Degree of Difference Webinar
State Employee Virtual Fitness Calendar

Join us for a webinar on this topic on July 14th from 10-11 a.m.: Movement Mindset Registration Link

Lacy talks to Dr. Russell Frohardt, neuroscientist and Dean for Academic Success at Northwest Vista College, about keeping chronic stress in check. The human stress system evolved to alert us to immediate danger so that we can act fast and stay safe. But in this modern age, we must manage a stress system that is chronically “on.” Unlike our ancestors, who faced dangers in the natural elements, we face an onslaught of concerning news from the frontlines of war, a global pandemic, extreme weather events, poverty, and more. If just reading these words quickens your heart rate, your stress system is engaged, and when it’s engaged for too long, other systems in our bodies can break down, increasing our risk for disease - both physical and mental. Dr. Frohardt talks about the surprising health risks of unchecked stress. Find out what activities he recommends for you to take control of chronic stress.

Resources:
If it is before June 23rd sign up for the webinar featuring Dr. Frohardt: 
Men's Health & Human Performance Webinar Registration Link

If it is after June 23rd, you will find a recording of this webinar in our ERS Webinar Archives Channel.

Adult Wellness Guidelines
HealthSelect Preventive services Flyer

Employees, retirees and dependents covered by an ERS-administered health plan, learn about your wellness resources on this ERS webpage.